ph level is extremely high

[mwith]

I have been having some troubles with my fish and have been trying everything. Finally, I bought ph test strips and the ph level in my tank is extremely high. When I first filled the tank a few months ago, I bought spring water in the 1 gallon jugs from the store. I tested the water that was in the full jugs that I have remaining and that is extremely high also. Our tap water is from a well and is ran through a softener, so I didn't want to put that in my tank. Can someone please let me know if you have any suggestions on how to fix my problem and what kind of water I should be getting for my tank.

 

[Kasakato]

What is the pH?

 

[mwith]

It is higher than the tester will go up to, so I am not really sure but it is above 8.5.

 

[Kasakato]

Uggggg. Thats not even good. You said test strips? Those things are garbage. They are know for giving miss reads. Return them and get a liquid test kit.

 

[mwith]

I will try another kind of test, but if that one gives the same results does anyone have any suggestions

 

[ashdavid]

If you are testing try to get some kH and gh test kits and test for those. Also what kind of softener is it running through, for the gH I would imagine. What kind of fish do you have in there? What kind of troubles are you having with your fish? And what makes you come to the conclusion that it is the ph and not something else? Cheers

 

[mwith]

I have not really come to any conclusion about what is wrong with my fish. I have two blue gouramis', three tiger barbs, one green tiger barb, a red finned shark, and a plecostamus. I have not had any problems with the shark or pleco but I have lost three blue gouramis', two tiger barbs, and one green tiger barb. First, I had issues with what I determined was a parasite which I got rid of with medication. Now, I am having an issue with one of my blue gouramis' and his fins splitting, which is what one of my other gouramis' died from. I have tried both melafix ( which cured the parasite problem ) and also stress coat along with many 25% water changes and the only thing I can really come up with is something in the water. I have a 20 gallon tank with plenty of aeration. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

 

[ashdavid]

Whats the filter like, flow rate ect? Or are you just using an air pump and no filter? How often do you do water changes? It is hard to believe that the gourami died from split fins, split fins is usually a sign of aggression or stress. Did anything form on the fins after they split? What kind of parasite was it? And I also think it may have something to do with the water, not necessarily pH though. Sorry for all the questions, I just want to get a good picture of what is going on.

 

[mwith]

The questions are fine. I really just love keeping fish. I am a beginner and just don't have a complete understanding of everything at this time. I have a 20-40 gallon power filter that filters at a flow of 160 gph. I also have a air pump that pumps 2800cc per min. I am not really sure what the parasite was but the gourami died with no abrasions on his body and nothing else visibly wrong with him except the split fins. I have done water changes about once every 2-3 weeks depending on how filthy the water gets because I use my gravel cleaner to do the changes.

 

[ashdavid]

I cant say anything about the filter, try to explain in a little more detail, how much filter media dose it have? or is it just a pump pushing water around the tank? It dose have bio-media so that bacteria can attach itself to it and filter the water? Ok this is the hard part, water changes on a tank that size should be done weekly along with gravel vacumming and filter maintenance, going by just look alone is not a good idea b/c the water can be clear and show no signs of being polluted when in actual fact it is full of nitrates/ammonia/nitrites ect(which kills fish fast, not so much nitrates). Did the gouramis fight at all, fin nipping , chasing and so on? Dont use spring water b/c it is full of minerals. And lastly, unless your well water is insanely hard I would be using that, best to test it and like I said before try to get a kH and gH test kit along with ammonia and nitrates, the kH,gH will tell you if it is hard.